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Halowat Porta-Pak 8 Tube Super

1/19/2016

8 Comments

 
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Here we have a prime example of a 1923 boom-box. Made by Hallock & Watson in Portland Oregon, it is an 8 tube superheterodyne. This is an early version that uses UV-199 tubes. A later version used UX-199 tubes.

As I understand the history, not a lot of "supers" were made by this company before RCA suggested that they stop or face the wrath of RCA's patent attorneys. To bad too, it was a nice set..
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As you can see it is in nice shape for its age.
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The only issues it had, other than needing a new 1uf cap, was a missing loop antenna and some questions regarding the proper use of the C batteries. There don't seem to be any schematics for these anywhere. The pictures of the most similar chassis I could find had C batteries mounted on the Bakelite deck of the radio. Though the wiring was similar it was not the same. The C solution is described in the video below.

As to the tapped loop antenna that once probably resided in the lid, a friend, Bob Deuel, described the configuration of the loop in his later version Porta-Pac. So I made a passable substitute on the plywood frame seen below and in the video.
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Picture
Unlike the later version, this one had no self contained speaker. So you had to bring along headphones or a suitable horn.
8 Comments
Harry Luginsky
1/20/2016 02:08:54 pm

Nice radio Russ!

Reply
Dan Merz link
3/27/2020 04:37:33 pm

Thanks for posting your H&W Porta-Pac 8. I have the same radio in a table top cabinet, with extended battery compartment, not marked Halowat on the panel, just Hallock and Watson, Portland Oregon. I got mine from the Jim Mason sale in Portland.

Reply
Russ
3/27/2020 06:30:48 pm

Dan, if you can send me a picture of your radio I will post it here.

Reply
Ralph R Russell link
2/26/2023 10:05:19 am

I just acquired a similar radio,the "Porta Pac 8" using 7 UX199s and 1 UX120 .A paper label inside the lid reads HALLOCK,WATSON & YONGE Portlands Radio Pioners 191 Park St. ATwater2515 > The radio has a loop antenna that flips up and will rotate for best reception, please provide any information you may have, I aam located in S. Georgia

Reply
Russ
2/26/2023 10:54:15 am

There were two versions of this radio produced before being challenged by RCA. The other version is not "portable" in that it does not have a handle.

Bob D., an officer with TCA has the other version and there is one up in Portland. These are very rare radios.

If you will send me a message through "contact" I will respond with an email address to which you can send a picture.

Reply
Ralph Russell
2/26/2023 12:25:29 pm

My radio also has a handle but the faceplate is configured differently than the one pictured here

Ralph Russell link
2/27/2023 07:30:05 am

I have photos to send , have not received your email , my radio is identical to the one posted by RadiolaDave

Reply
Ralph Russell link
2/27/2023 07:37:40 am

My radio is identical to one shown on RadiolaGuy website......not RadiolaDave as I earlier stated.

Reply



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CUSTOM DESIGN BY SUE WEBB  06/2013       Redesigned by Russ Webb     Approved by Fuzzy   Updated:  Pretty much all the time, but I forget to change this date
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